Prom Lok Community

Community Based Tourism Responsible Travel Partnership : Promloke Community Based Tourism Group and Sawadee Reizen Responsible Tour Operator

Promloke…Nakhon Sri Thammarat Province Southern Thailand… Next to Khao Luang National Park – a biodiversity hotspot…part of the oldest terrestrial ecosystem on earth… Watershed which provides water from mountain to coastal villages.

Promloke…A community of fruit farmers who have selected fruit seeds from the rainforest over several generations to plant “Suan Som Rom” mixed orchards…which enrich the earth! Rambutan, durian, mangosteen… The rainforest is their wealth… a situation which absolutely depends on conserving this environment.

Community Based Tourism in Promloke
Managed by a community group 13 Homestays 15 Guides 5 Car drivers

To learn and share with guests from outside the community

To promote and develop the community.

To generate supplementary income from tourism services Community and Environment fund – contributes towards conservation and social activities for the community

What do guests do in Promloke?

Dutch families stay with Thai families, experience life at home and explore the community together

Lead guests into orchards and jungle and see the relationship between local people & the natural world

Join in cultural and artistic activities… Make batik… dance the Manora!

Income for CBT service providers: 13 homestays – average 16,500 Baht / family / year Guides – 15 people – average 3,600 Baht / person / year Drivers – 5 people- – average 6000 Baht per person / year Represents an increase of between 10 to 20% of annual earnings

Working as hosts and CBT Community Guides has helped some poorer families and landless young men to earn important additional income and feel more valued in the community.

No further encroachment into the forest since the CBT project started. Work of CBT group, alongside active National Park staff & awareness from media.

Nature trail – The nature trail is better maintained and the national park authorities are more active in looking after the trail now there are visitors.

Community members more aware of the value of the integrated orchard system for environment and economy, and work harder to maintain the system

Youth local guides now know more about flora and fauna (not only what’s edible as before) and they are able to link natural resources with local livelihoods

Benefits for the community – Social

Better cooperation among local people and more involvement in social work

Government offices know about the community, so they receive more support:

Better cooperation with the National Park: joint waste management, not allowing waste on the nature trail, zoning for picnics

School – joint activities between the CBT group & Promloke school

Benefits for the community – Cultural

Revived interest in the classic Manora dance among local youth

Revived interest in local games – play together with Dutch children

Stimulated discussion about the benfits of the orchards, leading many families not to plant rubber as a monocrop – helped “Suan Som Rom” local wisdom to survive

Promloke community have been welcoming guests from Sawadee Reizen for over 3 years… and today, We would like to say a big “Thank You” to Sawadee Reizen and your guests for supporting our community based tourism project! Kop Khun Krup (Thank-you in Thai!)

Mum & Dad:

“How beautiful Thailand is, how kindly the people are and no matter if you are black or white, they love you at once!” Annette Sluyter;

“Respect for local people”, Maeian ter Haer;

What is one thing that you would never change about this trip? – “The contact with the family.” Miejam Van Riel;